Tips for contact users from our own Dr. Merle Piik.

What every contact lens user should know?
First thing to know is, that the usage time for contact lenses start from the moment you open the contact lense blister and put it in your eye for the first time. If your lenses are one month lenses then the usage time is 30 days despite the actual usage time.
For every contact lense the manufacturer has given specific instructions for the usage time. If you use your lenses longer than the said usage time, there is a possibility that you won't feel anything but in the long run it can ruin your eyes. So it’s important to not use lenses longer than their usage period.

What to do?

You should always wash your hands before handling your contact lenses.
Since you use your hands to put lenses in your eyes, then it’s important that you wash your hands to avoid dirt getting into your eyes which can cause different complications. Wash your hands with clean water and soap (preferably with not perfumed soap) and dry them with clean towel. Only after that open the lense container.   

Handle your lenses with precaution.
Although contact lenses are pretty durable then there might occur situations where contact lenses get damaged. For your lenses to stay wearable for the whole usage time avoid touching your lenses with your nails. Also it is important to have enough solution in the container. The container should have enough solution so the lense is completely covered in solution, but not full because then the lense could get between the lid of the container. 

Be sure to keep you lenses in the solution.
There might be some times when you don’t use your lenses. Either it’s connected with having a flu or you just need to give a rest to your eyes. During that period it’s important to control your lenses that they won't dry up in the container. We suggest to change the solution in you contact lense case at least once a week when you don’t use them. That way you can keep your lenses in a good condition and when using them again they won't irritate your eyes.


Take care of your contact lense case.
As important it’s to keep your hands clean it’s also important to keep your contact lense case clean. It’s recommended to clean and air dry your contact lense case every time you take your lenses out of for use. Definitely don’t use tap water to clean your contact lense case since tap water contains microorganisms, that could cause infection in your eyes.

Change your lense case regularly.
Since hygiene is very important in wearing contact lenses then it is important to change your contact lense case regularly.. Our eye doctor suggest that you should change your contact lense case as often as you change your lenses, but you shouldn’t keep your case longer than three months.  

Be careful when using makeup.
You should first put on your lenses and then do your makeup. When taking makeup off, firstly remove contact lenses and then clean your eyes.

Use eyedrops and sunglasses with your contact lenses.
Although most of the lenses have UV protection then it's not enough protection from the UV light for your eyes. Also, the strong sunlight will most likely dry your eyes. When that happens we suggest you to use eyedrops. While working with a computer and wearing contact lenses we also suggest to use eyedrops since the time you blink your eyes drops and your eyes start to dry. Before going to the solarium we suggest you take your contact lenses out or also use eyedrops.

If possible, make one lense-free day in a week.
Although there are plenty of lenses you can wear as daily or even while sleeping, we recommend you have one lense free day in a week. Also with pregnancy the wearing period can change.

What not to do?

If you have daily lense then you must take the lense out for the night.
If you have lenses that are meant to wear only on the daytime (not while sleeping) then it’s a must to wear them only while awake. Daily lenses usually don't let oxygen through the lense as well as night and day lenses so it’s strongly recommended that you don’t wear them while sleeping.

Hold your lenses only in your eyes or in the contact lense case.
You should take your lenses like your toothbrush. Everyone has it’s own and once you’ve  used it, definitely it’s not a good idea to lend it to someone else. Also putting your lenses to your mouth or washing them with tap water or other solutions that aren’t meant for contact lenses is bad for your lenses and ultimately for your eyes.

If you’re ill then please avoid using your lenses.
Most of the people usually have a flu once a year. During that period we don’t suggest you to wear your lenses. That way it’s possible that some of the germs get into your eyes and that can cause infections in your eyes.

You should avoid going to the sauna and swimming with your contact lenses.
Swimming with your lenses means connection with salty or chloride water. Salt and chlorine are not good for your lenses so in contact with those the lenses might lose their usability or are just uncomfortable in your eyes. When swimming we suggest you use swimming goggles and in sauna to just take them off.  

You should always have a contact lense case with clean solution with you all the times.
You’ll never know when you need to wash your lenses in a hurry or to just take them out in an emergency. For that situation we recommend you have a contact lense case with solution on you all the time.